We give a new, short proof that graphs embeddable in a given Euler genus-g surface admit a simple f(g)-round α-approximation distributed algorithm for Minimum Dominating Set (MDS), where the approximation ratio α≤906. Using tricks from Heydt et al. [European Journal of Combinatorics (2025)], we in fact derive that α≤34+ε, therefore improving upon the current state of the art of 24g+O(1) due to Amiri et al. [ACM Transactions on Algorithms (2019)]. It also improves the approximation ratio of 91+ε due to Czygrinow et al. [Theoretical Computer Science (2019)] in the particular case of orientable surfaces. All our distributed algorithms work in the deterministic LOCAL model. They do not require any preliminary embedding of the graph and only rely on two things: a LOCAL algorithm for MDS on planar graphs with ``uniform'' approximation guarantees and the knowledge that graphs embeddable in bounded Euler genus surfaces have asymptotic dimension 2. More generally, our algorithms work in any graph class of bounded asymptotic dimension where ``most vertices'' are locally in a graph class that admits a LOCAL algorithm for MDS with uniform approximation guarantees.
@article{arxiv.2507.04960,
title = {Distributed Approximation Algorithms for Minimum Dominating Set in Locally Nice Graphs},
author = {Marthe Bonamy and Cyril Gavoille and Timothé Picavet and Alexandra Wesolek},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2507.04960},
year = {2025}
}